Initially Disappointing, But I Got Over It
As much as I love my husband, one of the things we really disagree on is coffee. We both like espresso drinks, but I like mine sweet and frilly and he is more brass tacks about it. Sometimes he’ll fill it up with some frothed milk, but he usually likes it black as night and as strong as possible. I’ve always wondered if a single pour machine is going to be enough for us when we’re both rushing out of the house in the morning.
The DeLonghi EC155 15 BAR Pump Espresso and Cappuccino Maker looks like it has two different pourers to make your drinks with so you can make more than one at a time. That means that when we’re both rushing out of the house in the morning and headed in different directions, we can both still do it with our caffeine kick and without having to spend money at a coffee shop on the way to work. But even though it looks like it, you can’t make two different cups of espresso at the same time. Bummer. I was really excited about the prospect of being able to make two drinks at once, but I guess I can’t expect everything and this machine has a lot of other things going for it.
Are You A Pod Person?
Sometimes I think coffee pods are taking over the world. It seems like every company is making them now even though they’re much more expensive to use than grounds or beans. I tend to go for real beans because I can taste the difference between ground and fresh ground, and I can also save a lot of money over individual servings. This machine is great for anyone, though, because it can work with either grounds or pods so you can get your espresso however you like it.
Do It Yourself
One of the coolest things about this espresso machine is it limits how much you have to clean because it preps and primes itself with the self-priming function. When the machine turns on, it does it’s frothy, gurgly thing and primes everything so that it’s ready to go when you are, without a bunch of work on your part.
Keep It Separated
Most espresso machines have two separate functions for heating, which means they should have two different thermostats, but not all of them do. Good machines have one thermostat for steam and one for water. Based on that criteria, the DeLonghi EC155 qualifies as a better machine. If a machine doesn’t have the right thermostat for the steam being used for your milk, you can end up with burned milk that tastes super funky. If the water isn’t hot enough, you won’t get the full effect of the beans being cooked and pressurized at the same time from the heat. So, you can see how important it is for a machine to have two thermostats.
Frothy Memories
The froth handle on this espresso machine does move enough that it can come away from the machine and make room for frothing. However, it isn’t very big, and in order to get the right amount of froth you have to get pretty close to some parts of the machine that could be hot. It’s also only a few inches off the counter, so you need a small metal frothing container to fit underneath it to keep the splatter to a minimum.
Water On Board
The easiest to use espresso machines don’t make you fill the water reservoir every time you want to make a cup. They have an on board tank for the water that can be refilled periodically. In the case of this machine, the reservoir is 35 ounces, which is enough to make a lot of espresso. It would actually be enough for my husband and I to make a drink for each of us every work day for a week before having to fill it up again. That’s pretty great.
Plastic Parts
Something that is going to get as hot as this espresso machine will should have the durability to protect the user from getting burned. I’m not sure the plastic parts on this one would really do that. I’m not saying it’s entirely dangerous, but the machine will be pushing heat and scalding water through those parts, and that does concern me.
Not A Lot Of Movement
In the morning, I need something that moves as quickly as I do so when I’m headed out of the house, I can get what I need and hit the road. While this will make your espresso, it does not do it quickly. Some espresso machines will do everything from grinding the beans to pouring the drink in less than 90 seconds. In comparison, this one seems to take forever, so you have to decide whether or not time is a big factor for you.
Stylish But Slow
While I like the style and some of the perks of this machine (like the water canister), I’m not a fan of the fact that it could hold me up in the morning. I need a machine that moves as quickly as I do, so I may have to look at more expensive machines to get what I want.
If your schedule allows for the extra time this machine needs to do the job, then the EC155 should be just the ticket. You want find many espresso machines that come cheaper, and for the price you actually get a very good coffee drink.
